HIGH COST OF LOVING, THE
Feat. in the Broadway play "The High Cost Of Loving" (1914)
(Music: George W. Meyer / Lyrics: Alfred Bryan)


Kolb & Dill (Broadway Production) - 1914
Elida Morris - 1914
The Peerless Quartet - 1914
Victor Military Band (Instr.) - 1914


Billy O'Higgins was feeling quite sad
His little sweetheart was treating him bad
His weekly earnings were fifteen dollars
That only paid for his shirts and collars

Each time he'd ask her to go to a show
All of her family wanted to go
She'd call a taxi to take them all home
Then you would hear poor Billy moan

The high cost of loving, the high cost of loving
It's driving me mad, yes, driving me mad
The high cost of living is only a joke
The high cost of loving is keeping me broke

You borrow from mother, from sister and brother
You try to keep up with the style
Every bricklayer's daughter drinks wine just like water
I'll have to stop loving a while

Each night they'd linger around cabarets
She could spend money in ten different ways
After each drink or a moment later
All of his change she would tip the waiter

When they played music, his poor heart would sink
She'd treat the orchestra all to a drink
He would sit there and spend dime after dime
While all that she'd spend was her time

The high cost of loving, the high cost of loving
It's driving me mad, yes, driving me mad
The high cost of living is only a joke
The high cost of loving is keeping me broke

You eat nickle lunches and buy her milk punches
You try to keep up with the style
Every Mary and Jane wants to bathe in champagne
So I'll have to stop loving a while



(Transcribed by Mel Priddle - February 2016)